Baby smacking/scratching own face

[shorthairdocare]

This never happens during the day, but when I put 6 wk DD down to sleep in her next to me crib at night she's asleep for a few mins then stirs and starts smacking/scratching her own face and a few mins after is crying and I have to pick her up. She also just woke for a feed, fell asleep, I put her back in and she did it again.

Has anyone experienced the same? I've tried swaddling but she hates it.

They all do it. At least mine did. It stops after a few months. If she starts damaging her skin, try scratch mitts. And put a little moisturising cream on her cheeks. Her skin might be dry.

Both my babies hated being swaddled and did used to scratch their faces a bit. Mittens were the only solution I found, though they didn't always stay on.

Thanks both, I have got some scratch mits and will use moisturising cream as her face is a little dry... hopefully she'll be less likely to wake up with the mits on. At the moment she bashes herself in the head or scratches herself and then she's wide awake!!